And another quiet week unfolds

Boring, isn’t it?

Well, I’m hearing that some people in positions of power are starting to float back into Toronto so maybe something of mild interest will happen later in the week. Or not.

But until then, we’ll try to scare up something to at least chat about.

Like …

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So now it begins in earnest for the men’s national senior team.

Or does it?

The men left Sunday for Puerto Rico, where they’ll play this week against Puerto Rico, Argentina and Brazil in the Tutu Marchand Cup, an exhibition tournament that rolls into the world qualifier down there starting Aug. 26.

But if history has shown us anything, it’s that it’s quite unwise to put a lot of stock in any results from any exhibition tournament or tour just days before the most significant event of the summer.

It’s sort of like the age of disinformation leading up to the NBA draft, when teams lie or hide the truth lest others find out what they’re really thinking.

Teams in tournaments like this never go all out, they never run their real stuff and the results are often entirely meaningless.

Remember two years ago? Canada when to the same tournament before the Olympic qualifier in Vegas and had some great success; I believe they went 2-1 and looked quite sharp.

Then they showed up in Vegas, finished fifth overall and had to go through a secondary qualifier in Greece where they didn’t get to Beijing.

So when you’re paying attention to the results this week – they play Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night – remember that the outcomes may not be real and the only games that truly count begin Aug. 27 when they get Mexico to open the event.

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You know me and track, right? Hardly a diehard fan, certainly not an aficionado and someone who, it turns out, pays close attention to the sport on the world stage about once a year.

Like Aug. 16.

Yeah, yesterday it was time to take time out from the golf and the nap to check out the world championships and seeing Usain Bolt go 9.58 was, quite frankly, rather incredible.

Just as incredible as sitting – as I recall – at a women’s softball game in Beijing exactly one year earlier watching him go 9.69 at the Olympics.

I wondered then, and was chastised a bit for it, when he played to the crowd for the last 15 metres how fast he could have ultimately gone. Guess we got our answer yesterday.

That was among the most impressive things I’ve ever seen.

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Know what I find truly amazing? That there’s a suggestion out there in the ether that the Raptors and Houston Rockets are in a “bidding war” for our old friend Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

If by “bidding war” they mean the Raptors have offered a one-year contract at the minimum-value, likely not fully guaranteed then, yes, indeed, there is a “bidding war” going on.

And judging from everyone I’ve ever talked to around the Raptors, that’s the top “bid” they are ever going to make.

Not sure what Houston will counter with, but if it’s more money, he should take it.

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Right, the Yankees.

I know you were all sitting and waiting anxiously for the television highlights of the big game on Saturday but the lads cruised to glorious victory over the plucky Tigers and we’re now in the championship.

It’s a double-knockout format which means we have to beat the dastardly Dodgers twice but if we get them in Game 1 tonight, I like our chances in Game 2 tomorrow evening.

And then we can all go about the rest of the summer being pretty dang happy.

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What ends first: The sorry NHL saga in bankruptcy court or the attempts by the Minnesota Timberwolves to resolve the equally boring Ricky Rubio fiasco?

And when they both do end, someone wake me up; it’ll be the next time I really care about either.

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A few days ago – not sure how many since they all seem to meld together at this time of the year – I suggested the Dominican Republic team at the world qualifier that starts next week was going to be stack and include Trevor Ariza.

Well, I’ve since found out that Ariza is not going to play, leaving the Dominicans with only Charlie Villanueva, Al Horford and Francisco Garcia as their NBA component.

Still a pretty good team and you have to figure they’re one of the favourites to grab one of the four spots available for next summer’s world championships in Turkey.

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This dropped in the mail from someone using a bad pseudonym but it goes to the obsession around these parts with that open roster spot.

Q: Just wondering if you have heard anything about the Raptors having interest in Sun Yue. It was posted online at that we were one of four teams interested. I can see it being a viable option considering paying him the minimum and marketing him to the Chinese would be a good move. Maybe waiving Marcus Banks and bringing in Yue to play Point Forward as a third string Small Forward similar to what Turk does? Also any news on good/bad Joey?

A: Viable? A guy who cannot play in the league at all at the moment and coming off a lost season spent mainly on the inactive roster with the Lakers is viable? I’ll dispute that.

I’ll also dispute the idea of pandering to the Chinese basketball fans here; it didn’t do a whole lot when they signed Menke Bateer and he, at least, had a modicum of ability and could contribute. There is no suggestion that Sun Yue has even that.

So, no, I don’t believe they should, and I don’t believe they will.

Joey? No news. Just like there hasn’t been news in weeks and weeks.

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Comments

[LeeZ]

Do I infer correctly from what you're saying that the Raps have in fact made an offer to Pops, and that said offer remains on the table?

Blogger's note: I'm not 100 per cent sure a piece of paper exists but Pops' representatives have been made well aware for months what the Raptors were willing to pay

[Brian]

Hey Doug, do you think we could hop in the DeLorean and head to early October already? This has to be my least favourite time of year as far as basketball goes as there is hardly any news out there anymore. Kudos to you for being able to find enough to write about in your blog.

[Christopher P.]

Doug,

Thanks for mentioning Usain's incredible performance in your blog. The rest of the world has no idea how proud we are of Usain and Asafa and the rest of our athletes. We are a country with many problems, but it's nice to shine on the world stage for something like this. If anyone missed it here is a link to see it in good quality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdV3vHSIJtQ

Thanks for your hard work and looking forward to the start of the basketball season.

[Chucky B]

Hey Doug great job with the blog
Any idea as to when single game tickets come out or when they usually have in seasons past?

Blogger's note: Sorry, I don't; it's generally mid- to late-September but they may move it ahead this year given the anticipation and the possibility they won't fly off the shelves because of the economy

[raptorfan!!]

Any word from the inside if this is true?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4404309

[Mike]

Quiet Day? Are you kidding?

ESPN is reporting sign and trade: Delfino to Bucks for Amir Johnson.

this would be amazing. add another big man with grit who can play both ends. make an asset out of someone who wasn't going to play for us anyways.

is this a legitimate rumor?

Blogger's note: Just got something up

[DougG]

Marc Stein is reporting on a potential trade the Raptors are working on for Amir Johnson in exchange for Delfino.

Do you think there is any truth to this?

Thanks

Blogger's note: Just got something up

[gotgame]

Doug ... ESPN is reporting a possible sign and trade deal with the Raps sending Delfino to Miluakee for Amir Johnson. Any thruth to this??? This would be a nice little addition at power forward giving us a young big man to add to the front court depth.

Blogger's note: It's a bit bigger; go check the blog

[doug]

two amazing things yesterday..Bolts run just defies descripton its one of the all-time amazing feats...and also the PGA Championship where Yang beat Tiger, playing head-to-head he was unfuffled calm, and focussed, a pleasure to watch....also a pleasure to see the CBS braodcasters flumoxed, from watching Tiger tieing his shoes at his car as he arrived, to the driving range to announcer after announcer gushing, I was thinking why did any other golfer bother to show up?....but Yang did and in my eyes embarassed CBS,...Verne Lundquists call of Yangs chip-in on 14 was terrible and insulting..."inexplicable" was the word Verne used, Yang is a professional golfer what's "inexplicable" about it?...your guys bias was and is inexplicable...

so the Raps 15th man odyssey continues what a sit on the edge of yoor seat rivetting drama it is....the dog days of summer continue..

if you win the championship call Steinbrenner, not Hank but George played by Larry David on the Seinfeld show would be a classic clip, George getting called about a youth league Yankees team winning and Larry David's interpretation of it, make for good t.v....good luck as to the kids it is their championship

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
What are Canada's realistic chances at qualifying for next year's world championships? If they're remote will it mean the end of Leo's tenure with the National team? Also, I noticed that Dave Smart wasn't part of the coaching staff this year. Any reason for this?

Thanks.

Blogger's note: They've got a chance; I'd put 'em behind Brazil and Dominican Republic and probably Argentina (although that's not a powerhouse this summer) and on par with Puerto Rico.
Leo's contract is for this summer with an option for next and not sure why they replaced Dave Smart with Pasquali